We were recently looking for somewhere to stay during our trip to Orlando in May and as usual we researched many hotels in the planning process. We eventually chose Cabana Bay Beach Resort as we loved the look of the themeing and because it is an on-site Universal Hotel it is incredibly close to the Universal Orlando parks. We really liked the idea of being able to walk or take the courtesy bus to the parks and to Universal Citywalk and leave the car at home!
We arrived on a busy Saturday evening and check in was quick and easy. We were allocated our room in the Americana building. When we arrived in our room we found it to be at the very end of the building on the ground floor. Due to the construction work currently taking place in the area the floor to ceiling windows were frosted out which gave the impression that the room had no windows or light and it felt a little claustrophobic. As the hotel was full that evening we made the decision to stay there that night and then upgrade to a poolview family suite for the rest of our stay at the very reasonable discounted cost of $25 per night.
First let's talk about the hotel themeing. Described as 'retro-themed...offering guests their choice of family suites complete with kitchenettes or standard rooms, plus a wealth of recreation. With two huge pools, a lazy river, bowling alley and more, it’s unforgettable family fun at a great value right in the heart of Universal Orlando’s theme parks and non-stop nightlife' We would describe it as 50's/60's futuristic - think 'The Jetsons' and you wouldn't be far off!
The Hotel & Pools
The hotel is huge with 2 fantastic pools, one of which has cabanas available to rent for $100 a day Monday to Friday and $150 a day Saturday and Sunday. We hired a cabana for a day during our holiday and loved it! (more of this later) Just outside of the hotel lobby are some classic cars that are great for photo opportunities and nearby is where the shuttle bus to the Universal Parks picks up and drops off. We used the shuttle bus on a number of occasions and found them to be clean, comfortable, very regular and driven by friendly and helpful staff.
We spent one night hanging out in the Swizzle Bar when we wanted a relaxed evening and can report that the cocktails are excellent and the service is great. We were given a complimentary cocktail as guests of Virgin Holidays and can attest that the Pina Coladas are amazing! We sampled frozen cocktails around the pool which were also excellent and very refreshing on a hot day. Although this hotel is the only Universal hotel without a proper restaurant the food options are great if you want to grab an informal bite for breakfast, lunch or dinner. There is plenty of choice and the staff on hand are very accommodating. We ate some delicious french toast and pancakes during our stay! We invested in the resort mugs at a cost of $17.99 for our entire 2 week stay and enjoyed unlimited hot and cold beverages throughout our holiday. If you are staying for more than a few days we would definitely recommend investing in a resort mug - especially if you have children!
The Starbucks on site is a great addition to the hotel and we used it regularly, especially on the way back from the gym which incidently was amazing! The equipment was fantastic and we didn't want to leave! If we could have magically transported the gym back to our hometown we would have!
The pools were just beautiful! The hotel has 2 gigantic pools, one on each side of the hotel. One has a fun water slide and the other a fantastic lazy river! We fortunate to receive complimentary pool rings to use in the lazy river (usually prices from $6 upward depending on size) and we made good use of them during our stay! There were always plenty of free loungers around the pool and the atmosphere was fantastic all day - right through to the evening airing of the poolside movie.
The Family Suite
When we checked into our suite we were very pleased with what we found. The suite has the room to sleep 6 in the two queen beds and one sofa bed although 6 adults would be somewhat squashed! There is a separate seating area with a TV and side tables opening up into a kitchenette with a good size fridge, microwave and coffee machine. Very handy if you want to grab a quick breakfast before you head out on a morning. The room also came equipped with a safe to store your important documents, electrical equipment and excess money which is something we always feel is important in a hotel room. Another great thing about the suite is that it has a standalone vanity area with a sink and some makeup drawers, separate bathroom with a second sink, bath and shower as well as another room with a toilet. This proved very handy when we were all getting ready to go out!
The only negative about the suite, and the rooms in general, would be the lack of hanging/drawer space for clothes. As UK visitors to the USA we tend to stay for a minimum of 2 weeks, sometimes 3 and we take a lot of clothes! There was one small hanging space and 4 drawers to use which we struggled with during our stay (but maybe we just take too many clothes!).
The only negative about the suite, and the rooms in general, would be the lack of hanging/drawer space for clothes. As UK visitors to the USA we tend to stay for a minimum of 2 weeks, sometimes 3 and we take a lot of clothes! There was one small hanging space and 4 drawers to use which we struggled with during our stay (but maybe we just take too many clothes!).
The Cabana's
We spent a fantastic day at the pool when we hired a cabana. We hired midweek for $100 and a very attentive member of staff brought us towels and kept us topped up with cold water all day. The cabanas come with 2 comfy sun loungers, a dining table and 4 chairs, a fridge, a safe, a fan and a gigantic tv! We thought that mid week the cabanas were excellent value for money. We stayed from 9.30am to around 6pm and thoroughly enjoyed relaxing, eating and drinking in our own private area.
Location
Unlike the other Universal on-site hotels Cabana Bay does not have the benefit of the beautiful boat ride from your hotel to the Universal parks but if you are feeling energetic there is a lovely garden work that takes you straight over to the entrance of Islands of Adventure. We took this walk many times and it took around 15 minutes. It was a very pleasant stroll back to the hotel on an evening especially after a big evening meal! It helped us walk off a few calories!
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort and would highly recommend it to couples and families alike. Whether you decide to book a standard room or a suite we would definitely recommend that you opt for a pool view. The pool view rooms on both sides of the hotel have great views and really help you get into the whole theme of the hotel. Some of the other rooms are overlooking the car park so not quite so magical!
We loved being on site at Universal so much we have already re-booked to stay again later this year in October for Halloween Horror Nights!
If you would like to see a hotel and room tour check out our YouTube channel Elle and Mimi where we have vlogs from our trip including a full hotel and room tour!
Love Elle and Mimi x
Have you stayed at Cabana Bay Beach Resort? What are your thoughts?
We spent a fantastic day at the pool when we hired a cabana. We hired midweek for $100 and a very attentive member of staff brought us towels and kept us topped up with cold water all day. The cabanas come with 2 comfy sun loungers, a dining table and 4 chairs, a fridge, a safe, a fan and a gigantic tv! We thought that mid week the cabanas were excellent value for money. We stayed from 9.30am to around 6pm and thoroughly enjoyed relaxing, eating and drinking in our own private area.
Location
Unlike the other Universal on-site hotels Cabana Bay does not have the benefit of the beautiful boat ride from your hotel to the Universal parks but if you are feeling energetic there is a lovely garden work that takes you straight over to the entrance of Islands of Adventure. We took this walk many times and it took around 15 minutes. It was a very pleasant stroll back to the hotel on an evening especially after a big evening meal! It helped us walk off a few calories!
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort and would highly recommend it to couples and families alike. Whether you decide to book a standard room or a suite we would definitely recommend that you opt for a pool view. The pool view rooms on both sides of the hotel have great views and really help you get into the whole theme of the hotel. Some of the other rooms are overlooking the car park so not quite so magical!
We loved being on site at Universal so much we have already re-booked to stay again later this year in October for Halloween Horror Nights!
If you would like to see a hotel and room tour check out our YouTube channel Elle and Mimi where we have vlogs from our trip including a full hotel and room tour!
Love Elle and Mimi x
Have you stayed at Cabana Bay Beach Resort? What are your thoughts?
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